Introduction
Virtue ethics are the theories that gives importance to our moral values that effect our mind and our character. It not only helps us to decide what is rightness or wrongness in our decision but also provides a guidance to be a good person that we wish to achieve .Virtual ethic was prevalent from the time old civilizations started. The philosophers always guided the rulers and the common people to follow the path of virtue ethics. Among the famous philosophers whose ethics are followed till date are Aristotle, father of Greek philosophy and Confucius, father of Chinese philosophy. Virtue ethic was born when Plato first came up with his ethics but he was not a philosopher. But his virtues were famous due to his disciple ,Aristotle . Aristotle distinguished eighteen virtues that humans should follow. He was not only a Greek philosopher but a scientist during the period of 345 - 322 BC. The eudaimonia-arete was established by Socrates and Aristotle followed his footsteps. As mentioned Confucius, philosopher and politician of China has written many classics known as five classics and his teachings are complied in the form of 'Analects'. His teaching are based on Chinese tradition and belief. He was the founder of Chinese ethics and established the dao-de-ren.. Here we will make a comparative study of Aristotle and Confucius teachings i.e. their similarities and their differences.
Both of the philosophers devoted their in shaping our society and providing us the path to become better individual .Our beliefs and the laws of our country are based on their teachings. One of the common difference between the Confucius and Aristotle is that the former believed on the theory of heaven( Analect, 3.24) while the later did not. Confucius believed in god and its powers. He was of the opinion that gods play a role in making our life better . his ethic was similar to Socrates. This philosophy was based on Chinese religion . This is explained in li. But Aristotle stated in his book Nicomachean Ethics ," requires us to honor truth above our friends" .His opinion was not very different from Confucius that some unknown truths were to be believed from experienced and older person.(NE, 1096a11-16)
Both of them also believed that happiness cannot be achieved staying alone. According to Aristotle happiness is the ultimate goal of life and it the final destination at the end of one's life that every one wants to achieve. In Greek term happiness is known as eudaimonia but is sometimes confusing. He stated that happiness is not a subjective state of mind but rather objective. So he says, "for as it is not one swallow or one fine day that makes a spring , so it is not one day or a short time that makes a man blessed and happy."(NE, 1098a18)Confucius was more or less of the same opinion that happiness is achieved with our conducts, our habits, our practices, our skill along with the society we live in and the government that rule our country.
Chinese tradition believed firmly on divine power so there was no conflict between rationalism and religion. But Greek philosophy is based on rationalism. So there was a conflict between religion and rationalism.
Confucius believed that people are responsible for their actions and should be held accountable for it. He also believed in the philosophy of compassion and loving everyone. This was known as ren in his language. But Aristotle did not consider such theory. According to Aristotle an individual has t struggle hard to achieve and then build his own character. He believed that character is build by the actions performed by and individual in his life time. But Confucius believed that we are born with certain characteristics. Aristotle said," neither by nature, then nor contrary to nature virtues arise in us".(NE,1103a24-25)
Aristotle believed in metaphysics . He meant that human soul is the picture of our body. He described substance as changeable, perishable and eternal. The plants and animals change and perish. So within us our soul keeps changing and our body perish. He was of the opinion that universe is moving in a circular motion and is the cause of our existence. This meta physics helps him to explain the theory of virtue without being dependent on the social and political conditions. But Confucius theory of virtue depended on the past history of the Chinese tradition i.e. it is based on the Chinese traditional li which means rite or reason.
The second comparison was virtue and teleology , Confucian theory of the view of heaven does not have moral content and evidence. But Aristotle metaphysics believed in the soul of the our body. According to him human nature is more important as humans are rational individuals. In his view happiness lies in being a good person and this pleasure stays with every individual when he dies. But materialistic things like wealth , honor does not provide satisfaction or help in achieving happiness.
Aristotle discusses in his first book of Niomachean ethics about the different study of ethics. According to him ethics is vast and cannot be captured. But Confucius teaching were not based on reasons but o ethical ideas . he provided an example when stables are burnt down on returning from court Confucius said," Was anyone hurt?" He did not ask about the horses. By not asking about the horse he puts emphasis of human being over the property. He always believed that humans are more important than other animals and property.. His main ethics are the virtues related to self sincerity and increase of knowledge.
References
The Internet Classics Archive | Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle. (2009). Classics.mit.edu. Retrieved 1 June 2016, from http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
The Internet Classics Archive | The Analects by Confucius. (2009). Classics.mit.edu. Retrieved 1 June 2016, from http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/analects.1.1.html
